Music is in a pretty cool place right now. We still listen to CDs, artists are recording on vinyl again, all of our handheld devices play music and there are tons of online options for listening. We can have it all.
If you listen to online music, you probably know about Pandora and Spotify. But if you’re bored with those options, here are a few groovy sites to explore.
Songza.com: Playlists by music experts.
The music concierge is like your personal butler asking, “What can I play for you today, madam?”
You can also browse by genre, activity, mood, decade or culture. “Record-store clerk” is a section that includes categories like “This Will Piss Off Your Parents” and “Indie Music That’s Not Too Weird.”
8tracks.com: User-created playlists with at least eight tracks.
It’s like getting a mix tape from your friend in the mail, with a handwritten track list and little doodles around the edges.
Choose a genre, mood or activity – such as shoegaze (2,988 playlists) or skydiving (2 playlists).
Or combine multiple keywords. Want something to get you motivated for working out or hitting the ski trails? Try “energy” and “upbeat.”
Noisetrade.com: Free downloads by popular and undiscovered artists.
In exchange for your email address, you get a free song or album.
There are lots of ways to browse and search, and it’s easy to find new artists similar to the ones you already like.
If you love The Lumineers, try The Oh Hellos. A Katy Perry fan? Listen to Caitlin Timmins.
So go on and rock out already.
ImagineIF Libraries encourage exploration, fresh ideas and self-discovery. Learn more at www.imagineiflibraries.org.